Page 98 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

Leo set down his untouched drink. The study walls pressed in on him. He couldn’t stay here knowing Marina was removing her things from his bedroom, wiping away all traces of their happiness.

He yanked the bell cord. Henderson appeared instantly, his face neutral despite surely knowing about the rift between his master and mistress.

“Have my valise packed,” Leo instructed. “I’ll be staying with Lord Crawford for a few days.”

If Henderson was surprised by this announcement, he gave no sign beyond a slight raising of his eyebrows. “Very good, Your Grace. Shall I inform Her Grace of your departure?”

“No.” Leo turned away, unable to bear the quiet judgment in his butler’s eyes. “She knows all she needs to know.”

Twenty minutes later, Leo’s carriage pulled up before Noah’s townhouse on St. James’s Street. The hour was late enough that his arrival caused a stir among the servants, but Noah himself greeted Leo with remarkably little surprise.

“I wondered when you’d appear on my doorstep,” Noah said, leading the way to his study where a fire still burned. “Thompson, bring another glass and leave the decanter.”

Once they were alone, Noah’s facade of casual welcome dropped. “What have you done?” he asked bluntly, studying Leo’s haggard face. “You look like hell.”

“Marina and I have agreed to separate,” Leo replied, the words like ashes in his mouth.

Noah’s expression shifted from concern to exasperation. “Agreed? Or did you drive her away because you’re too bloody stubborn to admit you care for her?”

Leo didn’t answer which was answer enough. Noah shook his head, pouring them both generous measures of brandy.

“You’re a fool,” he said though his voice held more resignation than judgment. “A predictable one but still a fool.”

“Are you going to offer me a bed for the night, or should I find lodgings elsewhere?” Leo asked, too exhausted for his friend’s insights.

Noah sighed. “You know you’re welcome here for as long as you need. Though I reserve the right to tell you exactly how stupid you’re being at regular intervals.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” Leo replied, accepting the brandy with a nod of thanks.

Later, lying in Noah’s guest chamber, Leo stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and acknowledged the bitter truth. He hadn’tleft his house to give Marina space or even to escape the awkwardness of their situation. He had fled because he could not bear to witness the pain he had caused.

Sleep, when it finally came, brought no peace. It brought dreams of Marina walking away while he stood frozen, unable to call her back.

CHAPTER 35

“Aletter for you, Your Grace,” Henderson announced, extending a silver salver with a single folded note. “It was delivered by hand though the messenger departed before Matthews could inquire after its origin.”

Marina looked up from her untouched breakfast, her eyes shadowed from a night of sleepless grief. “Thank you, Henderson.”

The butler hesitated, his usual composure faltering slightly. “If I may inquire after Your Grace’s well-being this morning?”

“I’m well,” Marina replied automatically although the hoarseness of her voice betrayed her. She reached for the note, more to end Henderson’s concerned scrutiny than from any genuine interest.

“Has there been any word from His Grace?” The question escaped before she could stop it, her fingers crumpling the edge of the unread note.

Henderson’s face softened with unexpected sympathy. “Lord Crawford’s butler sent word that His Grace would stay there for several days while attending to business matters.”

Business matters.Marina’s throat tightened. So that was the excuse Leo had chosen. “I see. Thank you, Henderson.”

Only when the butler had withdrawn did Marina unfold the note, expecting perhaps formal communication from Leo regarding their new arrangements. Instead, she found an anonymous message with the letters cut from newspapers and pasted to form crude words:

YOUR SECRET IS KNOWN. PAY 500 POUNDS OR ALL OF LONDON WILL LEARN THE DUCHESS WRITES FILTH. INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW.

Marina’s hand jerked, splattering tea across the white tablecloth. She stared at the blackmail note, its ugly message a stark contrast to the elegant morning room. After everything that had happened between Leo and her, this felt like a final, vicious twist of the knife.

Her first thought was of Giles. Despite Leo’s settlement of the debt, the man might have seen an opportunity for further extortion. Her second thought was more alarming. What if thiswas someone else? Someone who had separately discovered her authorship?

Marina rose, abandoning her breakfast entirely. If this threat was real, she needed to act quickly. But first, she needed to confirm her suspicions about Giles.

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